Fire in a Refinery Plant
The event occurred in an alkylation reactor. Due to the rupture of a pipe (probably due to material failure), a power failure took place and the plant was automatically put in hot-stand-by mode. This implies that fuel feed and energy supply automatically are cut out. The plant was gradually cooled down. After about half an hour, for reasons not yet clarified, a fire started at the outlet of the alkylation reactor. The fire was extinguished by the intervention of operators, the plant fire brigade and the local fire brigade. Ambient air monitoring revealed no presence of hazardous substances in the environment.
Event Date
July 8, 1989
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Cause Comments
The immediate cause was the rupture of the pipe feeding into the reactor, probably due to material failure. How this relates to the development of a fire later on is unknown. The investigation report is not available.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
alkylation reactor, feeding pipe
Storage/Process Medium
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Operational Condition
Pre-event Summary
The accident occurred during normal operation of the plant. However, fire started after that a shutdown caused by the failure of a pipe.An alkylation unit is one of the many conversion steps taking place in petroleum refineries. It converts isobutane and low-molecular-weight alkenes (primarily a mixture of propene and butene) into alkylate, a high octane gasoline component. The process occurs in the presence of an acid as catalyst. The feeds contains as well non-condensable gases such as ethane and hydrogen. (from Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkylation_unit)
Consequences
Number of Injured Persons
33
Number of Fatalities
4
Currency
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Unknown
Event Nature
Emergency Action
Emergencies actions were necessary only inside the plant. The emergency depressurization of the plant was activated. In order to minimize the amount of flammable substances involved, the isolation of various sections of the plant was carried out. Nitrogen purging of the system was carried out. The adjacent installations were protected by applying cooling water. The fire was extinguished by the intervention of operators, the plant fire brigade and the local fire brigade. The fire fighting water was collected in a basin and disposed for treatment in the biological waste-water treatment plant of the establishment. Ambient air monitoring inside the establishment revealed no presence of hazardous substances in the environment.
Release Type
Release Substance
Ignition Source
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Flame Type
Source Category
References
References
Event description in the European database eMARS
https://emars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/en/emars/accident/view/f484c24a-cb04-e46…
(accessed September 2020)
Event description in the French database ARIA
https://www.aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/accident/801/
(accessed October 2020)